Ore-separator



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. JENKINS. ORE SEPARATOB.

No. 407,531. Patented July 23, 1889.

@125 vflo u PETERS. Paola-lithograph". Wuhinflnn. n.0,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES JENKINS, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,531, dated July 23,1889.

I Application filed June 2, 1888. erial No. 275,864. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES JENKINS, of Harrisburg, in the county ofDauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ore-Separators; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andto the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improvements in separators for ore andother substances in which the specific gravity of the elements isdifferent, and particularly to that class of separators in which thematerial to be separated is carried through a conduit having'aperturesin its bottom at varyingdistances from the end, through which theelements drop-such, for instance, as is described in my prior patent,No. 115,7 37 dated June 6,1871-the object of the invention being toproduce a separator of great simplicity, easily manipulated by any one,the element-s being at all times accessible, and at the same timegreatly reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the efficiency ofthe apparatus, while the amount of water used is greatly economized; towhich ends the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts to behereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at theend of this specification.

In. the accompanying .drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticalhorizontal sectional View of a separator constructed in accordance withmy invention; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents atop plan View; Fig. 4, a section on the line as 01;, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

The settling-tank A is rectangular and of a sufficient length to containthe desired number of compartments for the various elements or differentqualities of the same element, as the case may be. These compartments inthe present instanceare formed by simply erecting division-plates a,extending upward from the bottom of the tank and locating within thesecompartments thus formed suitable removable trays or pans A, preferablyof sheet metal.

Hung within the tank are the conduits B, preferably four or more innumber, of such size as is suitable for the material to be 0peratedupon, the open ends of which extend out at one end of the tank, awater-tight joint being formed around them to prevent the escape of thewater in the tank. Such water-tight joint I preferably form byinsertingsuitable rubber or' other flexible rollers b in grooves formed in thetank-wall around the aperture through which the conduits pass, whichwill bear firmly upon the conduits and prevent the escape of water, atthe same time permitting the conduits to be readily adjusted, as will benow explained.

The inner'ends of the conduits are supported by the screw-threaded rod0, passing through an eye or other connection thereon and extending upthrough the cross-timber D, passing from side to side of the tank, a nut0 being screwed down on the end of the rod to hold it in position andpermit of the vertical adjustment of the conduits.

A hopper or hoppers E-such as described in my aforesaid patent-guide thematerial to be separated into passages leading into the conduits a shortdistance from the lower ends, while the flexible supply-pipes F,entering conduits at the end, furnish the water for sweeping thematerial off up the conduits, the latter being preferably inclined, asin my former patent.

In the bottoms of the conduits are apertures G, corresponding in numberto the compartments in the bottom of the tank, each one being preferablylocated over a separate compartment. One side of each aperture that onthe side in the direction from which the current fl0wsis made slightlyhigher than the other, or is provided with an incline g to slightlyelevate the material in passing over the apertures, thus reducing theliability of two elements of different specific gravities both strikingthe opposite side or passing through the apertures, as would be the casewere both sides of the aperture of the same heigl'it, the chances in thelatter case being that two elements of different specific gravitiespassing along the bottom will both fall somewhat, although the heavierwill fall much more rapidly.

The material to be operated upon before being delivered to the hopper Eis, in order 5 to secure the best results, mixed with water in themixing-tank H, located over the top of the settling-tank and receivingits water-supply from the pipe it, the mixing and feeding mechanismbeing driven by power derived from the utilization of the waste waterthrough the medium of the water-wheel I or other motor, located beneaththe discharge ends of the conduits, and communicating its motion to saidmixing and feeding mechanism by belt 71, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Thebearings for the water-wheel are preferably formed in an extension ofthe frame of the settling-tank, in order that the wheel may at all timesoccupy the proper position relative to the dis eharge-orifice of theconduits.

The operation will now be readily understood. The settling-tank isfilled with water to the height indicated-that is to say, to the levelof the dischargeorifices of the conduitsbefore the material to beseparated is allowed to enter the conduits, the result being that as thematerial ascends the conduits with the water entering through pipes Fthere is no current in either direction through the openings in thebottom of the conduits, and the elements are allowed to settle, byreason of their own specific gravities, down through said openings intothe compartments at the bottom of the tank.

\Vhen it is necessary to change the elevation of the conduits foroperating on different materials, it may be accomplished by screwing orunscrewing the thumb-nut C, as will be readily understood.

From the above it will be seen that I have produced a separator ofsimple and practicable design, not liable to get out of order, and onefrom which the elements separated may be readily removed without thenecessity of drawing oit' all the water, and, by reason of the entiresubmersion of the conduits, doing away with the necessity of employinginclosed water tight compartments and conduits leading thereto, asheretofore.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In aseparator, the combination, with the 0pen-top settling-tank having thecompartments therein, of the substantially-straight conduit forconveying the material to be separated, located within the tank abovethe compartments and below the water-level, with the apertures thereincorresponding to the compartments, substantially as described.

2. In a separator, the combination,with the settling-tank having thecon'lpartments therein, of the conduit for conveying the material to beseparated, having apertures in the bottom corresponding to thecompartments in the tank, the sides of the said apertures in thedirection from which the material flows being provided with inclines,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a separator, the combination, with the settling-tank having thecompartments therein,of the substantiallystraight inclined conduit forconveying the n'laterial, located with in the tank above thecompartments and below the water-level, with its discharge end above theopposite end, and having the apertures therein corresponding to thecompartments, and means for supplying water under pressure to the lowerend, substantially as described.

at. In a separator, the combination, with the settling-tank, of theconduit located in the same below the water-level, having apertures inits bottom, through which the separated material passes, and adischarge-orifice outside the tank, and a flexible water-tight jointbetween the conduit and walls of the orifice in the tank, through whichit passes, whereby the end of the conduit is permitted averticalmovement, substantially as described.

5. In a separator, the combination, with the settling-tank, of theadjustable conduit lo cated in the same below the water-level, havingapertures in its bottom, through which the separated material passes,and the discharge-orifice outside the tank, with a Watertight connectionbetween the tank and convduit, and a flexible pipe for supplying waterto said conduit, whereby it may be adjusted to different levels,substantially as d eseribed.

JAMES JENKINS. \Vitnesses:

.ll'. 0. J ENKINs, A. G. MILES.

